Gingham Curtains – Give Your Home a Country Feel
For years, gingham curtains have been the go-to choice for home decorators whenever they want to give a room a light, airy, country look. Gingham itself has been around for hundreds of years and there are so many patterns by now that you'll have an almost dazzling array of choices. Not only that, because it is so popular, gingham is widely available in both brick-and-mortar stores and online. Let me go over what gingham is as well as some popular ways to use it.
Gingham is simply a type of striped fabric that was imported from Indonesia by the Dutch. I say striped, but the truth is there are many variations. You might find fabric with checks, stripes, or even plaid patterns - and it's all gingham. Just think Dorothy's dress from the Wizard of Oz - that should give you a pretty clear picture of what I mean. This type of fabric is usually used to cover soft furnishings for a sort of farm or country look. It's springlike, casual appeal means that it's a great choice for kitchens or any other room that you want to look homey and comfortable.
In kitchens, two panel curtains are often used together with a valance - this lets light in and gives you privacy to boot. If you're doing a full kitchen renovation, you could match the fabric exactly, or you could choose a pattern with the same overall color scheme. Either way, this is a great look. Gingham also works well in bathrooms, for much the same reasons. Here, you might want to think about pulling one of the colors from your curtains and getting a whole set of towels, etc. to go with them.
There are many different types of curtains available in gingham. Eyelet curtains are easy to install and easy to adjust - you'll never have to worry about them bunching up in the middle again! Tab top curtains are also a popular choice - I see a lot of these aimed at college students. Again, they're easy to use so that's a plus in their favor. Also be sure to think about whether you would like a valance or not. Either way looks great! Though gingham is most commonly used in the kitchen, it also adds some homey comfort to your living room so don't rule that out if you're shying away from long curtains.
Checked, striped, or plaid - gingham has something for everyone. From your kitchen to your bathroom to your living room it's sure to give your home a bit of cozy, country flair!
Eyelet Curtains Defined
In the past, the only types of curtains available were difficult to adjust - they were heavy and often bunched up or got stuck when you tried to open them. Luckily for us, some kind soul thought of a great solution - putting holes in the fabric with grommets attached so that the curtain rod could slid through freely. These became what we now call eyelet curtains - a two-paneled curtain style with eyelets all along the top.
Eyelet curtains are very popular due to their ease of use. In fact, these days you may see eyelet curtains in the shower as well as in your living room. The eyelets let them hang neatly from the curtain rod, so they never bunch up. They also give a room a light, clean, airy feeling.
These curtains are usually made of lightweight fabrics so as to avoid stressing the fabric and causing tears around the eyelets. The good news is that they let in a lot of sunlight! You can also choose heavier fabrics if you wish to hang eyelet curtains in a more formal setting, but you will need to check them every now and then to make sure there is no damage to the fabric.
One disadvantage is that the eyelets are clearly visible and may or may not (depending on personal preference) detract from your decor. However, there's a solution for this too! These days you can often find (or make) valances called "eyelet headers" which are specifically designed to hide the eyelets from public view. Eyelet headers are available in many different styles and colors, so no matter what, you are sure to find something that works for you.
The most common locations for eyelet curtains are bathrooms, little girl's rooms, and nurseries. In a bathroom, they let in some much needed light, provide a more airy, open feel, and still give the privacy that you need. In a girl's room, eyelet curtains lend a delicate, feminine touch. They are often used in nurseries for similar reasons.
This is not to say that they can't be used to decorate a dining room or living room - it all depends on what look you want for your house or apartment. Just keep in mind that formal fabrics may mean more maintenance and lighter fabrics may look more feminine.
I, for one, am thankful that eyelet curtains are around to make life just a tiny bit easier. They are one of my favorite curtain styles because they let in so much light, are lightweight, and versatile. Try them out and see if they work for you!